THE man accused of killing Jill Meagher is also accused of raping the Irish-born ABC employee three times, Melbourne Magistrates' Court has been told.
Accused man Adrian Ernest Bayley's barrister Helen Spowart aired the revelation during an application to adjourn her client's up-coming committal hearing which is expected to start next Tuesday.
Mr Bayley, who appeared in court via video link this morning, is now facing one count of murder and three counts of rape.
Ms Meagher's husband, Tom, was in court flanked by Homicide Squad detectives today, and left court without comment following proceedings.
Ms Spowart told Magistrate Felicity Broughton that the defence wanted the committal hearing in relation to the Meagher case to be adjourned off for four weeks.
Ms Broughton refused the application, saying she was satisfied the defence had enough time to make relevant inquiries.
The committal is listed for two days.
Six witnesses are expected to be called.
Reasons for the request centered around a request for notes made by a police forensics scientist in relation to DNA.
Ms Spowart said Mr Bayley was seeking his own expert's report about the DNA analysis.
The court heard a separate police scientist had analysed damaged clothing, and Mr Bayley was seeking an independent textile expert to analyze that evidence.
Ms Spowart said there was other extra material that the defence needed to digest to determine if it would have an impact on the committal hearing.
Chief Crown prosecutor Gavin Silbert, SC, vigorously opposed the application to adjourn next week's preliminary hearing, saying the scientific police officers would be available to be cross examined at the committal.
He said the other extra material referred to would have no bearing on such a hearing.
Ms Broughton is considering the submissions.
In late January, police charged Mr Bayley, 41, with seven new sex-related charges linked to an attack on a woman in Elwood in November 2000.
Those charges were three counts of rape, two of intentionally causing injury and single counts of making a threat to kill and unlawful imprisonment.
This week, Mr Bayley was charged with offences relating to two separate alleged attacks.
He was charged with rape, intentionally causing injury and false imprisonment over an alleged attack on a woman in Elwood on April 5 last year.
He was also charged with rape and false imprisonment regarding a further alleged assault on a woman in Balaclava on July 15.
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